Model Question and Answers for APSC | What is the role of sepoy mutiny in giving shape to India’s freedom struggle?

Ans : The East India Company had been active in India for nearly 250 years, but the violence of the 1857 uprising led to the British government dissolving the company and taking direct control of India. Following the fighting of 1857-58, India was legally considered a colony of Britain, ruled by a viceroy. The role of sepoy mutiny in giving shape to India’s freedom struggle
1. For the Indians, the 1857 Revolt had a major influence on the course of the struggle for freedom. It brought out the open grievances of people and the sepoys, which were seen to be genuine.
2. When the Indian independence movement gained momentum in the 20th century, events of the Revolt of 1857 were viewed as having been an early battle for independence. And individuals such as Mangal Pandey were hailed as early national heroes.
3. The educated middle class, which was a growing section, did not believe in violence and preferred an orderly approach.

4. But the Revolt of 1857 did establish local traditions of resistance to British rule which were to be of help in the course of the national struggle for freedom.
5. The people of India were promised freedom of religion without interference from British officials. Which boosted revival and reform movements and raised self-confidence of the Indian Middle class and masses.
6. The conservative reaction in England made the British Empire in India more autocratic; it began to deny the aspirations of the educated Indians for sharing power. In the long term, this new British attitude proved counterproductive for the Empire, as this caused frustrations in the educated Indian middle classes and gave rise to modern nationalism very soon.